Vietnam`s top healthcare officials sought to learn about Argentina`s health system and policies in ensuring and improving public health, with special priority given to initial healthcare and preventive healthcare.

 
Minister of Health of Viet Nam Nguyen Thi Kim Tien worked with Deputy Minister in charge of health at the Ministry of Social Development of Argentina Adolfo Rubinstein

Viet Nam wants to learn from Argentina’s experience in campaigns to prevent harm from tobacco, alcohol and non-contagious diseases, as well as in providing initial healthcare and improving public health, said Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien. 

Madam Minister made the statement at a meeting with Adolfo Rubinstein, Deputy Minister in charge of health at the Ministry of Social Development of Argentina, within the framework of her visit to Argentina from September 21-24. 

The visit aimed to learn about the health system in Argentina and share experience in issues related to public health of common concern. 

The Vietnamese Minister affirmed this is an occasion for the two sides to enhance mutual understanding and foster bilateral cooperation in the health sector. 

Rubinstein and other health experts introduced their country’s health system to Vietnamese delegates as well as Argentina’s policies in ensuring and improving public health, especially initial healthcare and preventive healthcare. 

They stressed primary healthcare is prioritised in the South American country's health system via a system of community health centres. 

Regarding tobacco harm reduction campaigns, the experts said Argentina built a national tobacco control programme at the end of 2003, aiming at reducing the proportion of smokers, protecting people from smoke in public areas, raising public awareness of the harms caused by cigarettes and encouraging people to quit smoking.

Argentina has also passed an anti-tobacco law in 2011, including stringent regulations related to tobacco advertising and imposed high tariffs on these products to limit smoking, especially among young people, they said.

During their stay, the Vietnamese delegates visited the Garrahan Pediatric Hospital, one of the largest medical centres in Buenos Aires.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien and Management Board of the Garrahan Pediatric Hospital

Director of the Garrahan Pediatric Hospital Patricia Elmeaudy said this is a leading public hospital for the treatment and care of pediatricians, and one of eight central-level hospitals in Argentina.

The hospital’s management board shared cooperation models with universities in training physicians and doctors at the hospital.


Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien and Delegation at Ho Chi Minh Monument in Buenos Aires

 

The Vietnamese delegation also had a working session with representatives from the leading pharmaceutical enterprises of Argentina, laid a wreath at Ho Chi Minh Monument in Buenos Aires and visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien and Delegation at visit to Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina.